Opening a coffee shop from scratch in a small town. Coffee to go

Coffee houses have long been a favorite place to relax, and an invigorating cup of coffee in the morning is popular all over the world. That is why opening a coffee shop is a profitable business.

• 4 coffee shop formats that are doomed to success
• Choosing a coffee house concept - the battle for originality
• How to choose the best space for a coffee shop?
• coffee shop business plan
• How much money does it take to open a coffee shop from scratch?

According to rough estimates, to make a cup of coffee, you need to use 7-8 g of ground beans (the cost of one serving is about 10 rubles). The average price of a cup of espresso is 60 rubles. That is, the profitability of the business is 500%.

But, like any business, opening a coffee shop comes with certain risks and challenges. If you correctly draw up a business plan for a coffee shop, and conduct business well, you can become the owner of a very prestigious and well-known institution in the city.

4 coffee shop formats that are doomed to success

There are several main formats of coffee houses that have “taken root” in Russia today .

french coffee shop

A traditional or French coffee house is designed for a quiet pastime and relaxation. This is the most expensive type of business. Such coffee houses require a classic interior, expensive dishes, service with the help of waiters.

Such a coffee house assumes the presence of a kitchen, so not only coffee, but also hot dishes are served here. Despite the fact that prices here are much higher than in other types of coffee shops, they bring a steady income.

Pros:

• Possibility to make the menu varied;
• A more familiar format for visitors.

Minuses:

• High competition;
• The need for large investments.

American coffee house

Mini coffee shops or American coffee shops are different from traditional ones. They do not have a kitchen, and, consequently, hot dishes , but offers a wide range of coffees and other drinks.

Mini coffee shops usually have several small tables where you can sit. Most often, this type of coffee shop is located in shopping centers. The margin on goods here is much higher than in previous versions.

A mini coffee shop also requires a large capital investment at the initial stage.

Pros:

• a wide selection of coffee varieties;
• the possibility of placing in shopping centers.

Minuses:

• high associated costs;
• lack of hot meals.

Express coffee shop

Express coffee shops provide only the presence of a counter and the necessary equipment. Also, such coffee houses can be located in small kiosks or rented premises, in shopping centers. Usually, the assortment of the institution includes a variety of pastries.

pros

• location within walking distance;
• low cost of goods

Minuses

• difficulties in serving a large number of visitors
• the difficulty of choosing a place for a coffee shop

Mobile coffee shops

For mobile coffee houses this kind of premises does not need to be rented, but it is necessary to have a means of transportation from which it will be possible to trade coffee and pastries.

Pros:

• the ability to change points of sale;
• low initial investment.

Minuses:

• dependence on weather conditions;
• high transport costs.

Coffee houses in all regions are popular with different segments of the population. But before making a coffee shop business plan, it is better to analyze the market in your area. To do this, it is enough to conduct monitoring on the Internet, or, if possible, involve a marketer, which is associated with additional costs.

Choosing a coffee house concept - the battle for originality

If you are determined to write a business plan for a coffee shop and open your own establishment, then, first of all, you will need to think about the concept that will distinguish your coffee shop from other enterprises of this kind. And you will have to make a lot of effort and imagination to lure customers and make their pastime in your establishment pleasant and unforgettable.

Entrepreneurs in many countries of the world have found the most original ideas for their cafes, which make their enterprises the most unusual.

So in "BarbieCafé" (Taiwan), those who wish find themselves in the pink world of Barbie. Everything here - the interior, and the uniforms of the waiters, and the dishes (mostly desserts) are pink.

To tell the truth, in some media there were very negative statements about such an institution, but this does not prevent the owners from successfully functioning and making a profit.

But "Alkatraz" (Japan), on the contrary, attracts visitors with its extreme and prison romance. Tables in the cafe are separated by bars, and visitors are offered such exclusive dishes as “Dead Bird”, “Human Intestine”, etc.

At DinnerintheSky (Belgium) you can dine under the sky, and the coffee itself is a crane construction, at O’Noir Cafe (Canada) blind waiters will serve you in complete darkness.

In Velokafi (Switzerland), the tables are designed in such a way that you can dine at them without getting off your bike.

Of course, when developing a business plan for a coffee shop, it is not at all necessary to come up with super-original ideas, but it should have its own “zest”. It is it that is designed to attract visitors to your institution.

You can make a coffee house in a classic style, with expensive dishes, chandeliers. Or, if you want to appeal to young people and students first of all, casual, city or hi-tech designs will do. It is quite possible to dwell on the original names of dishes or uniforms for waiters.

How to choose the best space for a coffee shop?

After you decide exactly what type of coffee shop you will open and decide on the idea, you need to choose a room. It is best to rent a room in the city center, in historical places, where there is a lot of traffic.

A big plus if there are entertainment venues, theaters, cinemas, shopping centers, and educational institutions near the coffee shop. Stations and markets are more suitable for a budget coffee shop.

It is possible that a coffee shop located in a residential area will function successfully and bring good income, but only if it is densely populated and the residents do not have much choice, and the nearest cafes and coffee houses are located quite far away.

The most suitable option if the area of ​​​​your coffee shop is at least 100 square meters. m., and have 40 seats. The average price for renting a room of 100 sq.m. for 2017, about 120,000 rubles per month, along with utility bills. The rented premises must contain:

• hall for visitors;
• kitchen;
• bathroom;
• utility room.

You can choose a room of 60-70 square meters. m., but it is less cost-effective. It is best to rent a room that was originally a catering point, then you will avoid unnecessary red tape with documents and problems with the SES.

coffee shop business plan

Paperwork

But with paperwork, as for any other business, you need to run around, although it is quite possible to keep within 1-2 weeks. What documents are needed to open a coffee shop? You need to register your activity as an individual entrepreneur or LLC, OKVED code 55.30: “Cafe and restaurant activities”, select a special taxation regime, UTII or USN. Then buy a cash register and also register it with the tax authorities.

To open a cafe, the following documents are required:

State registration new enterprise.

Premises lease agreement(it is better to immediately conclude 3-6 months in advance).

Conclusion from the sanitary and epidemiological station.

The conclusion from the fire department.

License for the sale of alcoholic beverages(if you plan to sell alcohol) and food retail license(If you want to).

Conclusion of Rospotrebnadzor(sometimes it is necessary to coordinate the recipe of dishes).

Technical project of redevelopment of the premises(if such an event is planned).

The paperwork will take from 10 to 30 thousand rubles.

Choosing an interior - 3 rules that will attract visitors

Refurbishment is one of the most expensive parts of an investment. It can last for a month and cost at least 500-600 thousand rubles. But before you start it, you need to think carefully about the interior, it is even better to invite a designer who will offer original ideas and successfully use the space.

It is not necessary to make a coffee house look like a lego construction, as in "Mocha-Mojo / Studio Mancini /" Chennai in India, or change the look of the coffee house with the help of lighting, as in "DreamBags-JaguarShoes / Studio Carnovsky/" London, England. But it is worth remembering three rules that will attract visitors.

The coffee shop should be:

• cozy

Soft and diffused light, small partitions between tables, soft sofas near the walls will help to give coziness to the room.

• comfortable

Properly arranged furniture and hangers will help to make a coffee shop comfortable. The bar counter and showcases should be located so that they are immediately visible at the entrance to the establishment.

• stylish

Stylish knickknacks, table lamps or lamps, beautiful dishes will give a special chic to the coffee shop.

It is worth remembering that the coffee house should be designed in a certain theme: from the menu and furniture to the uniform of the waiters.

Equipment selection

Now let's try to figure out what equipment is needed for a coffee shop and how much it will cost.

So, you need:

For the hall:

• bar counter;
• tables;
• chairs;
• sofas;
• TVs;
• musical equipment;
• lamps, table lamps, decorative elements;
• dishes.

For kitchen:

• coffee machine(the best option is 2 coffee machines - professional Italian equipment of the LaCimbali, Faema, Rancilio brands);
• coffee grinder;
• fridge;
• Dishwasher;
• closet;
• mixers and blenders;
• plate;
• oven.

The estimated cost of equipment, furniture, dishes and kitchen utensils will be 730-800 thousand rubles. Among other things, you will need to purchase detergents and cleaning products and equipment for the bathroom.

Recruitment for a coffee shop

There are mini-coffee houses where the owner and hostess are involved in the service, but, as a rule, to organize a good and profitable coffee house, you need hired personnel :

• manager(manager) - 1;
• accountant - 1;
• security guard - 1;
• barista - 1;
• cook - 1;
• dishwasher - 1-2;
• cleaning woman - 1;
• waiters - 2-3.

A minimum of 120-150 thousand rubles will be required for a salary. In the event that the coffee shop has a regular work schedule, for example, from 10:00 to 22:00, you can organize work in one shift, but still the best option is to work in 2 shifts.

Coffee shop menu selection - 9 main dishes

In the presence of a kitchen, the menu of a coffee shop can be quite diverse. In the first place, of course, there should be coffee and other drinks:

• coffee and drinks based on it (6-8 varieties);
• tea(5-6 varieties);
• hot chocolate;
• juices;
• cocktails;
• salads(it is desirable to add a few new salads with original names);
• sandwiches(with cheese, sausage, ham, fish, you can offer hamburgers and cheeseburgers):
• hot dishes(several options for meat and fish dishes);
• Dessert(several types of ice cream, cakes, cheesecake, signature desserts).

Baking can be offered both from its own production and imported, depending on the possibilities.

A big plus for your business will be the "Coffee to go" service. Moreover, you can provide the opportunity to take with you not only coffee, but also pastries, salads, sandwiches.

Approximately 250-300 thousand rubles will be required for coffee and other products.

Advertising of a coffee shop - we provide 50% of success

An advertising campaign should be started a month or two before the opening of the cafe, based on financial capabilities. You can start with social networks. A few VK reposts, for example, can significantly stir up the interest of potential customers if they promise any draws or a menu at the opening that competitors do not have.

Public transport or billboards are quite suitable for advertising, but this pleasure is not cheap. You can get by with posting ads at bus stops and other places specially designed for such purposes, but the effectiveness of such advertising will be relatively small.

It is better to use as many sources as possible. In smaller towns, word of mouth can be a good way to go, which is often more productive than the local media.

How much money does it take to open a coffee shop from scratch?

It is definitely impossible to answer the question of how much money it will take to open a coffee shop. A lot will depend on you and your choice: in which city you decide to open a coffee shop, what premises you rent, what kind of renovation you want to make, how much to invest in the design of the coffee shop, how expensive equipment you decide to purchase, what the menu will be.

Download coffee shop business plan

Such an institution will pay off, at best, in one and a half to two years. Therefore, before opening a coffee shop, carefully calculate all the risks. But, in the event that things go smoothly, you can earn 250-350 thousand per month.

It may be better to start with a mini coffee shop or an express cafe. The costs for such establishments will be 2-3 times less and they will pay off in six months or a year, but the revenue, respectively, will be much less.

We hope that the presented coffee house business plan with calculations will help you start your own business.

History of coffee

I would like to tell you the story of how the creation of my coffee bar began.
How did the idea come to me? What I did to implement it and what mistakes I made, read on.

Rethinking my past, I realized that it all started at the end of 2013, when a good friend of mine was trying to get a job as an analyst in a nascent network of takeaway coffee outlets. Then there was a rapid growth in this area, and for the first time I got acquainted with the “coffee to go” format.

But at that time I was not yet ready to create my own business, and the thought of creating something of my own did not even arise in my head, in my head then there were only thoughts about studying and a diploma.

Then the thought of my coffee shop began to glimmer and sprout in my head. As I remember then, it seemed to me that it was something incredible and businessmen who create many businesses - some special unique people.

Several years passed, and already at the beginning of 2015 I firmly decided that I would open it. I didn't know what to do, but it only added to my enthusiasm. I devoted several months to business training and acquaintance with the environment of entrepreneurs. I met the owners of several already operating small coffee houses, I realized that these are ordinary guys and there is nothing complicated here.

In the process of active communication and absorbing the experience of successful entrepreneurs, I found a person who is very well versed in the very process of making coffee. And we decided to open a coffee bar together, each doing what he is strong in, and a complementary team was born.

Of course, each area has its own pitfalls and decisive factors. Location is the deciding factor in retail and catering. And finding a place in Novosibirsk was not so easy.

Since we wanted to open a “coffee to go” point, we were looking for appropriate places, we spent about a month searching for and agreeing on a place. First, we rushed to the prestigious A class business center, agreed with the leasing director and developed a concept specifically for this business center. We spent time and money, and as a result, the owner refused to accommodate us.

Then we found a smaller and simpler business center, where we agreed with the director of the management company and already agreed on the timing of the opening, all that remained was a formality - to sign a lease agreement. We have already begun to prepare for the opening, ordered cups, supplies, made a bar counter, and suddenly we received a refusal with a reference to the fire inspector - "forbidden by fire safety rules." The second refusal and again wasted money and time.

Thoughts began to arise in my head: “Maybe it’s not necessary to start all this?” The second time we stumbled upon almost the same rake, the only thing here was the smell of a clear bribe, because the director gave the number of the inspector with whom this issue should be resolved, but such an inspector is not known in the fire inspectorate itself and no coordination with firefighters is needed.

In spite of everything, we continued to search for premises and accidentally stumbled upon an advertisement for a full-fledged cafe in a good business center. When we arrived, we immediately fell in love with it. But now, until we signed the lease agreement, we did not purchase anything in advance 🙂

The funniest thing in this story is that as soon as the firefighters refused us the second place, I wrote to the owner of one of the large federal chains of coffee outlets with a request for advice on how to solve this problem, and he answered me: “I’m sorry, I don’t help competitors ".

It made me laugh how a large network with hundreds of outlets throughout Russia can compete with one small, not even opened point. And a few days later we found this place where we became competitors, because their point is nearby and our audience intersects. It turns out that he told himself "competitors" himself, so friends, be careful in your judgments and help others as much as possible.

collapse

Modern man is constantly in a hurry, not having time not only to rest, but also to eat. Therefore, the business of creating small coffee shops, where anyone can be at peace, enjoying wonderful coffee, has become widespread. Therefore, many new entrepreneurs want to open a small, cozy coffee shop from scratch, rightly considering it a great way to invest their money, promising a steady income in the future.

If you are a beginner businessman or just want to know what it takes to organize a coffee shop, then we have collected the necessary data. Profit even from a small similar institution can be high.

Location selection

Of great importance is the place where you are going to establish your own institution. The accommodation space must:

• be very crowded;
• be located near roads;
• stay where people stay for a long time (stops, educational institutions, hospitals).

Such a business as a small coffee shop is a very profitable enterprise in any city. The best places to establish an institution:

• city ​​center;
• intersection with a large number of vehicles and pedestrians;
• bazaar;
• Train Station;
• a large shopping complex;
• higher educational institution.

Room selection criteria

Before setting up a coffee shop from scratch, you need to decide how small your space will be. For an ordinary institution for fifty to sixty people, a room with an area of ​​one hundred to one hundred and fifty square meters is suitable. If you are thinking about how to open a mini coffee shop, then first decide what you mean by this. A small stall with an area of ​​three square meters is more like a micro coffee shop.

Mini is an establishment of about twenty-five to thirty-five square meters with an area that can accommodate up to sixteen people.

The selected premises in which you plan to open a small institution must meet the basic conditions:

• if located in a residential building, then the walls with the ceiling must be made soundproof from vibration-proof materials;
• compliance with fire safety rules;
• compliance with sanitary standards;
• ventilation equipment (prohibit smoking in the hall).

Interior decoration

In order for the coffee business to thrive, the interior of the place is essential. Coffee is considered an aristocratic drink, which requires the appropriate setting. It is easiest to choose a specific theme when decorating, for example, an oriental fairy tale, English style. In any case, it is necessary that the design of furniture, walls, cutlery is mutually combined.

Lighting should also be in harmony. It is better to give preference to small lamps than a huge chandelier. Soft diffused light from many lamps will create a cozy intimate atmosphere. In order to create a unique atmosphere, you need music. Ideal - live music.

Furniture

Visitors should be comfortably located in the coffee shop. As a result, you need to take the choice of furniture seriously. In no case should you buy hard chairs in a coffee shop. Her furniture should not force visitors to leave quickly. On the contrary, its soft sofas, delicate ottomans, comfortable chairs should contribute to the longest presence of people in the coffee shop, and, consequently, to a greater number of orders that will be made during this time.

The bar counter and showcase are integral elements of the place.

Dishes

If the decision to design a coffee shop, albeit a small one, is made, then it is important to think about the dishes. It should be in harmony with the general style of the place and suitable for certain of its dishes. Different types of coffee are poured into different cups. Mulled wine should be served in a special glass.

Do not forget that many people who drink coffee often may be connoisseurs of the preparation of this drink. They can figure out in which dishes it should be served. The lack of the right cup can negatively affect the image of the coffee shop.

Before starting a restaurant, consult with an experienced barista to select the right glassware and read books on the subject.

Equipment

Before you open a coffee shop, you need to think about its equipment. You should start by choosing the appropriate machine. There are semi-automatic and automatic coffee machines. In order to get by with minimal investment, you need to purchase a semi-automatic. Moreover, for such a coffee shop it makes no sense to take a machine. Such a device is expensive and will not work at full capacity, and therefore will not pay off. The use of an automatic unit is justified for a large coffee shop, designed for an average of a hundred people.

In addition to the coffee maker, you will need other equipment. To open an institution from scratch, you will also need:

• refrigeration equipment;
• device for grinding coffee beans;
• mixer, can be small;
• juicer;
• microwave oven;
• water purification device;
• cash register equipment.

Other equipment can be purchased as needed. But the main equipment must be of high quality and reliable, because the amount of income that the coffee business will bring if you decide to open it depends on how good the coffee is.

Many companies sell excellent quality equipment. If you don't know much about the topic, find an expert. It can be easily found among the sellers of stores selling the necessary equipment. Employees of firms involved in the repair of coffee equipment can also help you.

Employees

It is impossible to get a complete picture of how to open an institution without solving the personnel problem. A decent coffee business cannot be imagined without highly qualified employees. You need to start by looking for a barista who should be able to make high-quality coffee. To open a restaurant, you need staff:

• two - four baristas;
• several chefs;
• from 2 to 5 waiters;
• driver;
• accountant;
• cleaners;
• manager, if you do not manage personally.

To establish a mini coffee shop, two baristas, two waiters, one cleaning lady and one accountant are enough.

Employees must be polite and tactful with visitors. If customers begin to receive rudeness in exchange for their own money, then the reputation of the cafe will be hopelessly damaged. No advertising will help if there is a rumor that waiters are rude to visitors. When selecting staff, try to find worthy people.

Advertising is not a luxury but a necessity

In order for the new coffee shop that you decided to open to become known, and it began to bring in a good income, you will need its active advertising. Moreover, advertising of the place should take place not only in the media.

In order for its advertising to become successful, you should give the place a memorable beautiful name, come up with an interesting emblem, and dress the staff in original uniforms. Advertising must begin about two months before the opening. Then that day will be full of customers.

Cost of a coffee shop

Let's estimate how much it costs to establish an institution. Let's make an approximate calculation for a small coffee shop with an area of ​​fifty square meters. m. for twenty seats. Calculate the costs (in thousands of rubles):

1. renting a room - 50 for 1 month;
2. equipment - 150;
3. furniture - 50;
4. raw materials - 60;
5. associated goods - 10;
6. advertising expenses - 11;
7. other expenses - 10.

The calculation does not take into account the costs of registration and salaries of employees, as these amounts can vary greatly. Data on the cost of renting a hall is very variable. Depends on the place where you decide to establish a coffee shop.

mobile coffee shop

Recently, in large cities, you can see cars with images of coffee selling it and other drinks right on the street. Due to the great popularity of mobile coffee houses, it is impossible not to talk about how to arrange one. In this case, everything is quite simple:

• register as an individual entrepreneur;
• obtain the necessary permits for running a small business;
• take a spacious car, painting it so that any passer-by knows that this is a coffee shop;
• buy utensils, equipment and necessary materials for making coffee.

Having the above, you can start selling the drink.

Advantages of a business on wheels:

1. minimum financial investment;
2. no need for employees. You can open and do this business alone;
3. big profit, especially in the summer;
4. simplified registration;
5. primitive requirements for this type of business

Flaws:

1. among goods, only drinks and dishes that a person can take with him;
2. You can open and work in a certain season, mainly summer;
3. small incomes.

The creation of a coffee shop can be recommended to novice entrepreneurs. Compared to other types of business, this one does not require huge investments, knowledge and experience. Any person can open a “small coffee shop” business serving wonderful coffee with a unique atmosphere with a little effort.

In our previous publication, we told you in detail about how to write a detailed . Let's continue this topic and discuss the next no less profitable idea of ​​​​earning - coffee to go.

Coffee is a popular drink in many countries of the world, the demand for which not only does not fade, but even increases every year. Surely everyone has tried this invigorating drink, and many have already decided on their favorite varieties and recipes for making coffee.

Coffee to go as a business cannot be called a new idea of ​​earning money, because it has been successfully existing for a long time. For the first time, the well-known fast food chain McDonalds offered a take-away coffee service. Today, this idea of ​​making money is considered quite promising, thanks to the great demand for coffee. Mobile coffee shops exist and work successfully both in large cities and in small towns.

Takeaway Coffee: Advantages and Disadvantages of a Business

• Mobility. Takeaway coffee service is most often offered by mobile stalls. The huge advantage of your kiosk is that you are not tied to one place, if necessary, you can always move to another area or even a city.
• High demand. As noted above, coffee is very popular among people of different nationalities, ages, and social status. Therefore, almost every second person passing by will be your client.
• Minimum investment. Starting a takeaway coffee business does not require large financial investments and special skills, so this idea of ​​​​earning money is suitable even for a novice entrepreneur.

As for the cons, they, of course, are also present.

• Competition. The popularity of coffee is obvious, so it's no secret that competition in this area is quite serious. It is not recommended to open a coffee point near competitors (the same tents offering coffee to go). As for stationary coffee houses, they are unlikely to compete with you. Firstly, not every person has time to visit a catering establishment, most prefer to take coffee with them and go on business. Secondly, there are often no empty seats in coffee shops, because, as a rule, such establishments can accommodate no more than 30 visitors. Thus, even competition is not a reason to change your mind about opening a mobile coffee shop.

The most popular types of coffee

takeaway coffee business plan

A coffee to go business plan should include a few important points to keep in mind.

1. The profitability of the idea. First of all, you must determine the demand, competition and calculate the profitability of the coffee to go business;
2. Collection of all documents. Naturally, no one will allow you to start working without registration, so you should take care of collecting all documents and permits;
3. Decide on the location of the coffee shop;
4. Purchase of equipment and conclusion of contracts for the supply of raw materials;
5. Calculation of all financial costs and determination of the payback period of the business.

In general, a takeaway coffee business plan is a document with which you can evaluate the profitability of an idea and draw conclusions about the profitability of the project as a whole.

Business registration

Your primary task is the collection and execution of all necessary documents and permits for activities.

In this case, as a substantive form of activity, it is worth stopping at individual entrepreneurship, this will save you money and time.

After registration, you must apply to the relevant authorities to obtain permission to trade in public places and allocate a special place for the location of the coffee shop. You will also need to obtain permits from the sanitary and epidemiological and fire services.

Coffee shop location

The choice of a place to open a mobile coffee shop should be taken responsibly. Your profit depends on the correct placement. Offering coffee to go service is best in crowded parts of the city. It is very advantageous to place such a tent in the center, near the market, educational institution. In general, in places with high traffic and the absence of nearby competitors.

It is worth noting that an open mobile outlet does not require special communications. All you need to work is electricity. Sewerage and plumbing will not be needed, because bottled, filtered water is used to make coffee.

Coffee shop equipment on wheels

The quality of a coffee drink directly depends on the technique of preparation and the type of coffee. Therefore, you should be very responsible in choosing a coffee machine. Give preference to high-quality foreign models of coffee machines designed for industrial use.

You will also need a coffee grinder, special utensils for making coffee. You will also need paper cups for coffee, sugar, napkins. Be sure to pour the drink into convenient thermo glasses from which you can drink on the go.

In addition to this equipment, you also need to purchase a refrigerator for storing dairy products (milk, cream), desserts.

Employees

If you are opening a small coffee shop on wheels, you will need one or two employees to serve customers. In the case of opening a full-fledged coffee shop, it’s already possible to hire waiters, a bartender, a cleaning lady.

Regardless of the format of the institution, make sure that your employees are attentive to customers, cultured in communication, and also understand their work and can advise and tell about all the varieties of coffee offered in the institution. Remember that the attendance of the institution, and, accordingly, the income depends on the work of the team.

Costs and profits

First of all, let's discuss how much it costs to open a coffee shop. Immediately, I note that the bulk of the money will be spent on the purchase of equipment. But let's talk about everything in order.

Coffee shop equipment on wheels:

• Professional machine for making different types of coffee;
• coffee grinder;
• bottled water;
• Refrigeration equipment.

In addition to equipment, you will need to pay rent for the premises or purchase a coffee shop on wheels (equipped car), but its cost is quite high, so it is better for beginners to rent a mobile tent.

Also, the purchase of raw materials, that is, coffee, will be a constant waste. Give preference to well-known manufacturers who guarantee high taste qualities of the drink. You should not save on raw materials otherwise you will not have customers.

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Advertising and customer acquisition

Opening a mobile coffee shop is easy, but making it popular is not so easy. Naturally, a lot depends on the location, the criteria for choosing which we talked about above, but we must not forget about the quality of service. Modern customers are very demanding and if you do not meet their needs, they will go to your competitors.

Ways to attract customers

Unlike a stationary coffee shop, a mobile tent does not require expensive advertising. All that is needed is an aesthetic, beautiful and bright design of a sign that will attract the attention of people passing by.

Profit

Income will depend solely on your work. Do not expect a quick payback, you can get a net profit not earlier than in a year.

90% of people are sure that opening coffee to go is easy. On the one hand, they are right. The only clarification is that it is simple and easy to open coffee to go only if you know how to do it correctly. Despite the fact that in appearance the coffee to go format seems simple, like any other business, ignorance of the subtleties and nuances can turn a profitable and promising business idea into a loss-making enterprise that works to zero and sucks out the last pennies.

To avoid such a situation, you need to know where to start and what stages of the business should be given utmost attention.

For example, you need to start by defining the target audience for coffee to go. By asking yourself who will buy your coffee, you will be able to adjust the design, strategy and concept of your small business to the needs and requests, interests and desires of specific people - your future customers.

The target audience of coffee to go is mainly young people from 18 to 24 years old. In 70% of cases, they are girls.

Students, young professionals, lower-level managers - these are your potential customers. They appreciate low prices, friendly service, efficiency and social activity. Of course, older people should not be discounted either, there are coffee-to-go fans among people over 50. But to be honest, answer yourself the question, how many of these fans will walk past your coffee to go every day and how many of them will consider buying?

But it is precisely the number of people passing by, coupled with their “quality” (belonging to the target audience) that is the key to the success of the coffee to go point. Finding a place like this is half the battle for coffee to go.

However, do not forget about another important fact for the coffee to go business. This is the taste and quality of the coffee itself. If you prepare delicious invigorating drinks, then they will come back to you, they will recommend you to friends and acquaintances. So you can ensure that spontaneous purchases will be reduced, and the number of regular customers will increase.

We will talk about all these subtleties and other important little things further.

Investment size

Opening a take-away coffee shop can be considered a business with little investment. According to the experience of entrepreneurs who have opened their own take-away coffee points, you can meet 200 thousand rubles, and the upper limit of the starting capital is unlikely to exceed 400 thousand rubles.

This difference in initial capital is explained by the wide opportunities to save.

Of course, the amount of funds needed to start will largely depend on several large expenses, without which it is simply impossible to open a coffee point with you. The first is rent, which we'll talk about a little later. Secondly, the equipment.

Takeaway coffee machines

If the flow of customers depends on the choice of the rental place, then the ability of the point to quickly and efficiently serve this flow will depend on the equipment on which you will prepare coffee.

Professional coffee machine and grinder - the main means of preparing and selling coffee to go.

It makes no sense to put a home or even a super-automatic coffee machine on the point of coffee to go. Firstly, such equipment will not be able to provide the required quality of the product, and secondly, it is not designed for continuous and uninterrupted operation. And if the coffee machine breaks down, you will no longer sell a single cup of coffee. Remember, the miser pays twice: time spent, money lost.

That is why many entrepreneurs are trying to buy high-quality, foreign equipment, the cost of which can be 150, and 250 thousand rubles, or more. If you don’t have that kind of money, but working on professional equipment is still a priority for you, equipment rental or the purchase of used coffee machines comes to the rescue.

Usually, coffee equipment for rent (even free of charge) is provided by coffee bean suppliers, subject to the purchase of a certain amount of coffee from them. At the same time, they also advise on the selection of the necessary list of equipment depending on the expected scope of work (for example, one- or two-chamber coffee machines) and provide maintenance and repair of equipment. However, even in the case of free rent, many companies require a security deposit - from 20 to 50 thousand rubles.

As for used equipment, it will take no more than 100 thousand rubles to buy it.

What else will you have to spend on?

You will also have to spend money on a sales stand or the design of a rented kiosk. Naturally, when designing the appearance of a coffee to go point, you need to pay attention to the fact that it attracts attention and attracts glances. The appearance should cause a reflex desire to drink coffee or tea. The name on the sign should not subtly hint that an invigorating drink is being poured here, but shout about it so that a person at first glance understands that you are offering coffee, and not selling donuts or SIM cards...

Returning to the investments required to open a coffee-to-go business, it is also worth mentioning all sorts of little things, which are nevertheless important for comfortable work without failures and overlaps.

Purchase of consumables for the preparation of a variety of coffee drinks - milk, toppings and syrups; additional assortment - snacks, sweets and snacks; purchase of disposable cups, lids, spoons; purchase of bar equipment.

By the way, there is an option to save on the purchase of consumables - for example, disposable tableware, if you can cooperate with other coffee-to-go owners who buy non-branded cups.

Step-by-step instruction

Having calculated the required amount of investment in the coffee to go business, it's time to take action.

For starters, legalize the business. It would be best to register yourself as an individual entrepreneur and submit an application to the tax office about choosing a UTII taxation system. This tax will allow you to pay less due to the lack of employees and the small rented area on which activities are carried out. Taking into account the minimum required area of ​​a coffee-to-go outlet of several square meters, you will pay an average tax of about 3,000 rubles. In addition, for individual entrepreneurs on UTII, a cash register is not required, which means that you can issue a check only on demand using a conventional CPM (check printing machine).

The OKVED code for the coffee to go business is 55.30 “Activities of restaurants and cafes”.

Despite this OKVED, you do not need to obtain any permits, since there is no full-fledged kitchen, which means that there is nothing for the supervisory authorities to check. All that is required of you is to notify Rospotrebnadzor of the start of activities. It is worth waiting for checks from the SES only if complaints appear. If you're lucky, you won't have your first audition meeting until three years later.

Attention to the workplace

You should also take care of ordering a sales rack in advance. It will take at least two weeks to design and manufacture. Provided that you already have a selected rental location.

The very process of installing a counter, bar or kiosk equipment can also cause difficulties and problems that will entail the postponement of the date of the planned opening.

In advance, for example, you need to take care of proper energy supply. If it is not there, you will have to call an electrician and conduct an additional line, which will need to be agreed with the landlord. Therefore, all issues related to electricity, heating or water supply must be resolved at the stage of signing the lease. At the same time, the contract itself should not be concluded for a long time: your expectations about traffic may be erroneous and in practice the pedestrian flow will not be converted into buyers and customers...

From coffee to cookies: how to choose a supplier?

Naturally, in parallel, you need to look for suppliers of consumables and raw materials.

And first of all, it is necessary to decide on the supplier of coffee beans. If your customers don't like your coffee, all is lost. Delicious coffee is one of the main components of the success of the coffee to go business. There are a huge number of varieties of coffee that suppliers can offer. Both your own taste and the advice of the suppliers themselves, and analysis of competitors will help you navigate the choice.

If you buy your own coffee equipment, you will not be dependent on a particular coffee supplier and the range of varieties offered can be much wider.

Find out if your chosen variety is suitable for classic coffee drinks, as it is on the usual espresso, latte, cappuccino, americano and mochachino that you will specialize. The volume of the initial purchase will depend on the conditions under which you sign a contract with the supplier, whether you will rent equipment, etc. No need to be afraid of numbers of 10 kg or more.

A small 200 ml cup of coffee takes 9 g of coffee, and 18 g for a 400 ml cup.

Thus, the purchased 10 kg of coffee will go to just over 1100 small cups of coffee. At the same time, a working point of coffee with you in a passable place sells much more per month.

In addition to the coffee card, it is necessary to draw up a menu and a list of additional assortment. Will you sell various chocolates and sweets, or maybe ready-made sandwiches or even pastries?

If the answer to this question is yes, you should look for profitable suppliers or partners who could provide you with the required amount of products, usually not too much. You can buy chocolates or oatmeal cookies at wholesale markets and bases, as well as at stores such as Metro, Lenta and Auchan.

Of course, coffee as a drink will remain the main component for a coffee to go point, and various sweets and “snacks” are needed more likely only to increase the average check and customer convenience. You can hardly make money on chocolates or pastries. Still, the margin on the resale of someone else's products is small.

In general, the volume of additional assortment does not exceed 5-7% of the turnover.

The assortment of snacks and additions to coffee will change - some positions will disappear, others will be added. It is definitely necessary to experiment with the assortment, but only when the work of the outlet stabilizes and the changes do not entail a sharp decline in revenue.

Barista for coffee to go

An important factor in the success of the take-away coffee shop is the professionalism and competence of the barista. This person should not only prepare delicious coffee, but also properly serve customers, communicate with them, be able to resell, thereby increasing the average bill. With the search and hiring of such a person, certain difficulties may arise both at the launch stage and at the first time of working coffee with you.

When opening their first coffee-to-go outlet, entrepreneurs often personally stand behind the counter and serve their first customers, working 12-hour days without days off and lunch. But such work on two fronts quickly drains. In any case, an entrepreneur will need a shift or a full-time employee. At the same time, hiring a professional barista is not always possible. Basically, young people who do not have the slightest idea of ​​​​how to properly prepare coffee respond to the vacancy of a barista at a coffee point with them. She is attracted by flexible hours, hourly pay, etc.

Careless young coffee baristas bring their friends to work so they don't get bored. And instead of working, they arrange a farce.

A feature of working with the staff of the coffee point to go is a large turnover of staff - which will stop only when you hire the right person - friendly, honest, hardworking and responsible, who, moreover, will quickly master the art of making delicious and high-quality coffee. Agree, such people, especially young ones, are rare today ...

Therefore, the future owner of coffee to go at first will have the task of finding and training a reliable person who can replace you at the counter. Subsequently, if you do not stop at opening one point of coffee with you, the need for employees will increase. Therefore, it is necessary to immediately determine the stages of selection and training of employees, as well as develop a shift schedule, a system of motivation and control.

One of the barista motivation options is bonuses or bonuses for overfulfillment of the sales plan and the absence of comments (a percentage of the total revenue or a percentage of each coffee sold in excess of the plan).

But even the motivation system does not insure against unscrupulous workers who do not go to their shift, arrange a booth at the point, or simply treat work superficially. The owner of coffee to go is faced with the acute issue of control of an employee or shift.

Alternatively, you can install a surveillance camera at the coffee-to-go point and thus monitor the employee online.

Regardless of which option you choose to work with the staff - a stick or a carrot - when opening a coffee point with you, be prepared that at any moment you will be forced to personally stand at the counter and work as a barista.

If you are planning to open a take-away coffee point, be aware that all your profits will depend primarily on the location. At the same time, choosing the right location for a coffee to go point can be one big problem.

A couple of years ago, when no one heard anything about coffee to go, landlords, especially large shopping and business centers, did not understand how coffee could be prepared on three square meters and refused to rent. Today, almost all the tidbits in more or less large shopping centers and business centers have long been occupied.

However, the rental market is quite competitive and involves a change of tenants. It's just a matter of price. If you have found a tasty place, but it is occupied, you should start negotiations with the owner or the rental department, find out the rental rate and offer to pay more, or convince that your coffee shop can generate additional traffic and attract a certain audience.

By the way, you can open a coffee point with you not only in megacities, where the lifestyle pushes people to do everything on the run, including drinking coffee, but also in small towns. Moreover, it is even easier to find a profitable place for coffee to go in a small town - there are fewer points with high pedestrian traffic in small towns, which means that the probability of choosing an unsuccessful place is reduced.

However, it is still quite easy to make a mistake with the choice of a rental place for a coffee point with you. It often happens that a location seems to have high traffic, but its quality can only be assessed by starting to work. For example, it may turn out that there is simply no target audience among the traffic passing by. Or the point itself is not located in the flow of people, as it should, but “around the corner”.

When considering locations for coffee to go, you don’t need to limit yourself to rental options in shopping or business centers.